Systems and methods for providing mail item retrieval

ABSTRACT

A method and system for delivering an item to a customer including the processing of a plurality of items and notifying a customer ( 304 ) of an item that has been processed and is ready for delivery. When the customer requests the item, the system and method receives item information and customer information and based on this information identifies the customer ( 408 ) and the item ( 412 ). Then, the system and method validates that the customer is authorized to obtain ( 414 ), and delivers and confirms delivery of the item to the customer.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] Under provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), the Applicant claims thebenefit of U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/212,596, filed Jun19, 2000, and U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/255,407, filedDec. 15, 2000, which are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to item notification, delivery, andautomated retrieval. More particularly, the present invention, which isillustrated by specific embodiments, involves methods and systems fornotifying a recipient of an item to be retrieved from a mail serviceoffice and either providing automated means for retrieving the mailitem, or delivering the item to the desired address.

[0004] 2. Background

[0005] The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independentgovernment agency that provides mail delivery and other services to thepublic. The USPS is widely recognized as a safe and reliable means forsending and receiving mail and other items. With the increase inelectronic commerce, the physical mail stream has increased ase-commerce companies utilize the USPS for sending and receiving items.

[0006] Due to the fact that many item recipients are not at home when anitem is delivered or that the item could not be left at the redipient'saddress, recipients may need to physically visit a mail servicelocation, such as a post office, in order to obtain an item. Forexample, a recipient may be required to go to a mail service office topick up the item if the item was too large for the recipient's mail boxor if the sender required personal delivery and the attempted deliverywas when the recipient was not at home.

[0007] Currently, the USPS and other mail service providers provide anotification at the recipient's address indicating that the recipientshould visit their local office to retrieve the item or arrange foranother delivery when the recipient anticipates that they will be home.This method and system for item delivery is inefficient because therecipient has to either make a special trip to the local office toretrieve the item or the delivery service must make a second trip to thedelivery address to deliver the item. Furthermore, if the recipient isnot at home when the second delivery is attempted, then subsequentarrangements, similar to those described above, must be made fordelivery or retrieval of the item.

[0008] Thus, there remains a need for efficiently providing itemnotification, delivery, and retrieval in an item delivery system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with the current invention, an item notificationand delivery method and system are provided that avoid the problemsassociated with prior art item notification and delivery systems asdiscussed herein above.

[0010] In one aspect, a method for delivering an item to a customerconsistent with the present invention comprises processing a pluralityof items; notifying a customer of an item that has been processed and isready for delivery; receiving item information and customer informationfrom the customer requesting to receive the item; identifying thecustomer based on the customer information received from the customer;identifying the item based on the item information received from thecustomer; validating that the customer is authorized to obtain the item;delivering the item to the customer, if the customer is authorized toobtain the item; and confirming delivery of the item.

[0011] Both the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings provide a further understanding of theinvention and, together with the detailed description, explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the registration processfor a customer attempting to the use the mail item retrieval system(MIRS) consistent with the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a system layout illustrating an exemplary embodiment ofthe MIRS consistent with the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for retrieving anundelivered mail item consistent with the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for retrieving amail item from the MIRS consistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Reference will now be made to various embodiments according tothis invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawingsand will be obvious from the description of the invention. In thedrawings, the same reference numbers represent the same or similarelements in the different drawings whenever possible.

[0018] Introduction

[0019] A mail item retrieval system (MIRS), consistent with the presentinvention, improves mail provider service by automating a processcurrently for storing and retrieving undelivered mail items (UMIs), suchas certified mail, CODs, and held mail. A self-service MIRS enhancescustomer convenience, both during and after business hours, reducesdelivery operation expenses, and may also increase the number ofpackages available at a given facility. A self-service MIRS offerscustomers access to UMIs through a highly reliable, interactive,expandable and flexible operating environment.

[0020] System Operation

[0021]FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating the registration process forparticipating in a MIRS, consistent with the present invention. Toparticipate, a customer 102 runs an application program on a computer104 and generates a MIRS application form 106. Once application form 106is filled out, customer 102 delivers the form to a local mailing serviceoffice 108, for entry into a database 110 and assignment of a membershipnumber. Form 106 may also be transmitted electronically in connectionwith appropriate validation and security measures.

[0022]FIG. 2 illustrates a mail retrieval system (MIRS) 200 consistentwith the present invention. MIRS 200 is of modular design andincorporates a base module 205, which includes a customer identificationmodule 210 and an item identification module 215. MIRS 200 furtherincludes a validation module 220, database 110, one or more carouselmodules 230, and a delivery confirmation module 235. Modules 205-235 maycomprise hardware, software, or a combination of both.

[0023] MIRS 200 operates by storing undelivered mail items (UMIs) in oneor more carousel modules 230 and delivering the UMIs to an appropriatecustomer 102. The UMIs may be automatically retrieved by customer 102after proper validation by the validation module 220. To retrieve UMIsfrom the MIRS 200, customer 102 must identify him or herself by, forexample, providing a magnetic ID card, such as an ATM card, to thecustomer identification module 210, which reads verification informationincluding the customers name from the magnetic card via a magnetic cardreader 212. Once a customers name has been retrieved, customeridentification module 210 may also require customer 102 to providefurther verification information. For example, customer 102 may also berequired to provide a personal identification number via a PIN pad 214.

[0024] The customer's verification information may be stored in database110 to provide information for investigation should an unauthorizeddelivery occur or the verification information may be sent to validationmodule 220 to validate the customers name and other verificationinformation (e.g., personal identification number). Validation module220 may validate the customer's identity by comparing the informationprovided by the customer with information stored in database 110.Database 110 may store customer names, membership numbers, and otherverification information associated with each customer.

[0025] Customer 102 may also be required to validate the item to beretrieved by providing item identification information. For example,customer 102 may scan a form with a barcode that the mail serviceprovider left at the customers home, when it was unable to deliver theitem. The barcode identifies the item attempted to be delivered. Theitem identification information is sent to validation module 220, whichconfirms whether the item identification information is valid.Validation module 220 may validate the item identification informationby comparing it with existing item identification information indatabase 110, or validation module 220 may validate the itemidentification by comparing the customer's personal identificationnumber to an identification number assigned to stored UMI 240.

[0026] If customer verification is validated and/or the itemidentification information is validated, validation module 220 instructsone or more carousel modules 230 to retrieve UMI 240. The one or morecarousel modules 230 retrieve UMI 240 and deliver it to customer 102.The one or more carousel modules 230 may include multi-point retrievalpoints and contain mail item carrier shelves, each of which may have upto 6 compartment sizes.

[0027] Delivery confirmation module 135 confirms that the customerreceived UMI 240. Delivery confirmation module 135 may include a camerasystem that records an image such as a moving or still image of thecustomer receiving the UMI.

[0028] An operating system platform for a microprocessor and MIRSsoftware implementing the above mentioned modules may be the LISPSapproved release of Microsoft's Windows NT, which is a fullymultitasking and multi-threading operating system capable of executingmultiple concurrent application programs without detectable delay by theuser. In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more of thesoftware modules may be implemented using one or more microprocessors.

[0029] Methods of Operation

[0030]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 300, consistent withthe present invention, for retrieving stored UMI 240. Method 300 startsand customer 102 receives notification of UMI 240 via a form with abarcode left at a delivery address and/or via e-mail from MIRS 200.(Stage 302 and 304). If the notification is received via e-mail,customer 102, via return e-mail, may request UMI 240 to be delivered tothe delivery address. (Stage 306 and 308). If customer 102 decides tohave UMI 240 delivered to the delivery address, MIRS 200 provides theappropriate notification to the mail service provider for UMI 240 to bephysically delivered to customer 102 and method 300 ends. (Stage 309 and318).

[0031] If customer 102 decides not to have the item delivered, customer102 may decide to have UMI 240 returned to the sender. (Stage 310). Ifcustomer 102 decides to return UMI 240 to the sender, MIRS 200 providesthe appropriate notification to the mail service provider and UMI 240 isreturned to the sender and method 300 ends. (Stage 311 and 318).

[0032] However, if customer 102 decides not to have UMI 240 returned tothe sender, customer 102 may decide to pickup UMI 240 at MIRS 200.(Stage 312). If customer 102 decides not to pickup UMI 240 at MIRS 200and customer 102 has not requested that UMI 240 be delivered or returnedto the sender, UMI 240 is held by MIRS 200 for a predetermined period oftime and then the package is returned to the sender and method 300 ends.Alternatively, an additional notification may be sent to customer 102.(Stage 315 and 318). If customer 102 decides to pickup UMI 240, customer102 proceeds to MIRS 200 for retrieval of UMI 240. (Stage 314).

[0033] Returning to stage 306, if customer 102 did not receive e-mailnotification, customer 102 may have received a notification via a formwith a barcode left at the customer's delivery address. If customer 102decides not to pickup UMI 240, UMI 240 remains at MIRS 200 for apredetermined period of time before UMI 240 is returned to the senderand method 300 ends. (Stage 315 and 318). If customer 102 decides topickup UMI 240, customer 102 proceeds to MIRS 200 to pickup UMI 240.

[0034]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 for retrieving UMI240 from MIRS 200. Method 400 is described using some of the numberedelements of FIGS. 1 and 2. Method 400 starts and customer 102 proceedsto MIRS 200 to pickup UMI 240 (stage 404). To pickup UMI 240, customer102 is identified by, for example, providing ATM card information tocustomer identification module 210, which reads the customer's name froma magnetic card via magnetic card reader 212. Once a customer's name hasbeen retrieved, customer identification module 210 may also requirecustomer 102 to provide further verification information. For example,customer 102 may also be required to provide a personal identificationnumber via PIN pad 214. * If customer 102 is not identified, then method400 ends. (Stage 410).

[0035] However, if customer 102 is identified, method 400 proceeds toidentify UMI 240. (Stage 412). MIRS 200 identifies the item to beretrieved through item identification information provided by customer102. For example, customer 102 may scan a form with a barcode that themail service provider left at the customer's home when it was unable todeliver UMI 240 or UMI 240 may be identified based upon the customer'spersonal identification number entered via PIN pad 214. If the item is,however, not identified then method 400 ends. (Stage 410).

[0036] If the item is successfully identified, then method 400 validatesthe customer's access to UMI 240. (Stage 414). For validation, the itemidentification information is sent to validation module 220, whichconfirms whether the item identification information is valid.Validation module 220 may validate the item identification informationby comparing it with existing item identification information indatabase 110, or validation module 220 may validate the itemidentification by comparing the customer's personal identificationnumber to an identification number assigned to stored UMI 240. But, ifmethod 400 is unable to validate the customers access to the item, thenmethod 400 ends. (Stage 410).

[0037] However, if the customer's access to UMI 240 is successfullyvalidated, then UMI 240 is delivered to customer 102, UMI delivery isconfirmed, and method 400 ends. (Stage 416,418, and 410). The deliveryconfirmation may include delivery confirmation module 135 which confirmsthat customer 102 received the package. Delivery confirmation module 135may include a camera system for recording the customer's receipt of UMI240.

[0038] Delivery confirmation module 135 may also include a data exchangeand handshake between MIRS 200 and a delivery confirmation system, whichprovides the sender of UMI 240 with a positive confirmation of delivery.The delivery confirmation system is described in greater detail in U.S.provisional application serial No. 60/230,788.

[0039] In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the presentinvention provides a system and method for item notification, delivery,and retrieval. Still, it should be understood that the foregoing relatesonly to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and thatnumerous changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method for delivering an item to a customer, comprising:processing a plurality of items; notifying a customer of an item thathas been processed and is ready for delivery; receiving item informationand customer information from the customer that is requesting to receivethe item; identifying the customer based on the customer informationreceived from the customer; identifying the item based on the iteminformation received from the customer; validating that the customer isauthorized to obtain the item, based on the identification of the item;delivering the item to the customer, if the customer is authorized toobtain the item; and confirming delivery of the item.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the item information includes at least one of: anassociated delivery notice with an associated unique number; and acustomer identification number.
 3. The method of claim 2, whereinvalidating the customer comprises determining that the item informationis consistent with at least one of: an associated delivery notice havingan associated unique number; and a personal identification number. 4.The method of claim 2, wherein the associated unique number isrepresented by a barcode.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifyingthe customer comprises receiving identifying information from one of: amagnetic ID card; and a personal identification number.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein notifying the customer comprises delivering a deliverynotice comprising a form with a barcode for item identification.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein notifying the customer comprises deliveringan e-mail to the customer indicating that the item is to be delivered.8. The method of claim 1, wherein validating that the customer isauthorized to obtain the item comprises verifying that the iteminformation is consistent with an associated delivery notice with anassociated unique number.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein validatingthat the customer is authorized to obtain the item further comprisesverifying that the item information is consistent with a personalidentification number for the customer.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein delivering the item to the customer comprises requesting theitem from at least one carousel and delivering the item to the customer.11. The method of claim 1, wherein confirming delivery of the itemcomprises recording an image of the customer taking possession of theitem.
 12. A system for delivering an item to a customer, comprising:means for processing a plurality of items; means for notifying acustomer of an item that has been processed and is ready for delivery;means for receiving item information and customer information from thecustomer requesting to receive the item; means for identifying thecustomer based on the customer information received from the customer;means for identifying the item based on the item information receivedfrom the customer; means for validating that the customer is authorizedto obtain the item, based on the identification of the item; means fordelivering the item to the customer, if the customer is authorized toobtain the item; and means for confirming delivery of the item.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the means for identifying the iteminformation includes at least one of: an associated delivery notice withan associated unique number; and a customer identification number. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the means for validating the customercomprises means for determining that the item information is consistentwith at least one of: an associated delivery notice having an associatedunique number; and a personal identification number.
 15. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the means for identifying comprises means foridentifying an associated unique number that is represented by abarcode.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the means for identifyingcomprises means for receiving identifying information from one of: amagnetic ID card; and a personal identification number.
 17. The methodof claim 12, wherein the means for notifying the customer comprisesmeans for delivering a delivery notice comprising a form with a barcodefor item identification.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the meansfor notifying the customer comprises means for delivering an e-mail tothe customer indicating that an item is to be delivered.
 19. The methodof claim 12, wherein the means for validating that the customer isauthorized to obtain the item comprises means for verifying that theitem information is consistent with an associated delivery notice withan associated unique number.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein themeans for validating that the customer is authorized to obtain the itemfurther comprises means for verifying that the item information isconsistent with a personal identification number for the customer. 21.The method of claim 12, wherein the means for delivering the item to thecustomer comprises means for requesting the item from at least onecarousel and delivering the item to the customer.
 22. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the means for confirming comprises means for taking aphotograph of the customer taking possession of the item.
 23. A systemfor delivering an item to a customer, comprising: a module generating adelivery notification to the customer of the availability of the item; acustomer identification module for identifying the customer, when thecustomer attempts to retrieve the item; an item identification modulefor identifying the item, when the customer attempts to retrieve theitem; a validation module for verifying that the customer is authorizedto obtain the item; a carousel module for delivering the item to thecustomer after verification that the customer is authorized to obtainthe item; and a delivery confirmation module for verifying that thecustomer received the item.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein thecustomer identification module comprises at least one of: a magneticcard reader; and and a PIN pad.
 25. The system of claim 23, wherein theitem identification module comprises a barcode scanner for reading abarcode on the delivery notification form that identifies the item. 26.The system of claim 23, wherein the item notification module identifiesthe item based on a personal identification number.
 27. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the delivery notification comprises an e-mail sent tothe customer.
 28. The system of claim 27, comprising a module forreceiving a customer response to the e-mail.
 29. The system of claim 23,wherein the validation module verifies that the customer is authorizedto receive the item based on comparing a first barcode on the deliverynotification with a second barcode on the item.
 30. The system of claim23, wherein the validation module verifies that the customer isauthorized to receive the item based on a personal identificationnumber.
 31. The system of claim 23, wherein the delivery confirmation iscomprised of a camera for recording an image of the customer receivingthe item.